Glen Farley has covered the Patriots for The Enterprise since the Raymond Berry regime.

Choice words for Patriots' Spikes

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By Glen Farley

Glen Farley has covered sports for The Enterprise since 1978. His time on the Patriots beat dates back to the final year of the Raymond Berry regime, 1989. You could say his roots lie in Foxboro. He once won an award for a piece he wrote on the sod
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Glen Farley has covered sports for The Enterprise since 1978. His time on the Patriots beat dates back to the final year of the Raymond Berry regime, 1989. You could say his roots lie in Foxboro. He once won an award for a piece he wrote on the sod at Gillette Stadium.

Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes continues to stir more ill will around the league as the Associated Press reports:

JOHN WAWROW

AP Sports Writer

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Bills running back Fred Jackson is out with a concussion, and there’s at least one teammate who’s unhappy with how Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes celebrated after delivering the blow.

“Yeah, he’ll get his,” backup running back Tashard Choice said on Monday. “I don’t like to see nobody get hurt, and then on top of that (Spikes) making fun of him while he’s on the ground.”

Choice was referring to how Spikes flexed his arm and then mouthed off at Jackson and several Bills players while the running back was down late in the fourth quarter of a 37-31 loss at New England.

“You know it’s cool to make a big hit,” Choice said. “But it’s not cool when somebody’s down like that.”

Coach Chan Gailey announced Jackson was diagnosed with a concussion and will not play Thursday, when the Bills (3-6) host AFC East rival Miami (4-5).

Gailey said Jackson began not feeling well during the team’s flight home. Tests taken Monday morning confirmed that he had sustained a concussion.

Jackson was hurt at the end of a 9-yard catch and run, when he lowered his head while being swarmed by three New England defenders. Spikes got to Jackson first, lunging into the running back with his left forearm striking Jackson directly on the helmet.

Jackson fell immediately to the ground and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by center Eric Wood.

After being treated by trainers, Jackson appeared woozy while making his way to the sideline. He did not return, though the Bills final drive ended four plays later when quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s pass intended for rookie T.J. Graham, was intercepted by safety Devin McCourty.

Spikes was not penalized on the play. He was penalized for roughing the passer earlier in the game, when he lunged headfirst into Fitzpatrick with enough force to knock off the quarterback’s helmet.

Fitzpatrick took issue with Spikes following the game.

“I think he’s a punk at times,” Fitzpatrick had said. “He’s not high on my list.”